Big hits (but costlier)... I'm using $13+ as the dividing line.
Alvaro Palacios Bierzo "Corullon" 2001, $27
- wine-maker is "bright young thang" of spanish wine
- less complex than a fine bordeaux, but headed into the same territory
Rex Hill Pinot Noir 2001, $22
- Willamette Valley, Oregon
- a bit expensive for what you get, but it's as pure a Pinot experience as I know
Ferrari-Carano Tresor 1999/2000, $25
- Formula One money?
- bordeaux five grapes in a wonderful, rich, deep blend---long after taste of vanilla and berries
- #3 overall
Aia Vecchia Lagone 2002, $15
- super-tuscan, not a type of wine I know much about
- wonderfully complex a la French wine rather than Italian
Rosemount Hill of Gold Shiraz 2002, $15
- see below for my comments on a parallel aussie shiraz tasting
Chateau Haut de Boussan Medoc 2001, $19
- #2 choice from the tasting, really headed into my range of preferences
- very complex, full, rich experience
- beaten by a cheaper yank? hmmm...
- put some in a cool spot in your house and impress the neighbors for the next decade or two
Palazzo Brunello de Montalcino 1998, $33
- little walled town south of Siena
- pricey, but seemed to me to be the perfect stereotyped wine of Italy (earthy and fruity)
Dry Creek Vineyards Meritage 2000, $20
- another quite good California attempt at claret
Justin Paso Robles Cabernet 2002, $23
- a near perfect cab
- wonderfully in your face
Champalou Vouvray 2002, $13
- I didn't taste many whites, next time need to do a round of whites before demolishing my taste buds on cab after cab
- the vouvray flavors were strong enough to register, silky smooth wine
Hahn Meritage 2002, $13
- my personal favorite from the tasting, #1
- maybe not quite the Medoc, but cheaper and maybe a touch rougher (in a positive way)
- five grapes used a la bordeaux
Less expensive. More bang for the buck. Less than $13.
Buckeleys Shiraz 2002, $8
- need to do a head-to-head comparison of a bunch of shirazes at some point
- anyone want to join me?
Cetemura Chianti DOCG 2001, $11
- seemed like the best of the many chiantis being poured
- very much the type of wine that got me interested in wines in the first place
Masseria del Pilone Primitivo 2001, $7
- this was my best find on the lower price end
- southern italian wine (I wasn't a huge fan of sicilian wines when traveling there, but this primitivo comes across as a brash, bright red that I'd serve with most any pasta or maybe a sea bass)
Osborne Solaz Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, $8
- this was my other find on the lower priced wines
- cheap spanish wines never did much for me, but this one has character---strong flavors, aftertaste maybe of leather and earth
Charriot Sangiovese 2002, $12
- US sangiovese, seemed like a perfect match for food
- also contrasted nicely in style with...
Fonterutoli Badiola Sangiovese 2002, $10
- old world sangiovese, probably what I would stock heavily if I ran a restaurant
- could charge $24 in the restaurant and no one would mind much
- plus it's a great name